Knitting method and machine



May 19, 1942. H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTING METHOD- AND MACHINE- 4Sheets-Shea?I l Filed Nov. l 1Q 1940 May 19, 942- H, RHQUSEMAN 2,2335@KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *W2k f6May-19,1942 I H. E. HousEMAN 2,283,554

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 3 May 19,i942. A H. E. HQUSEMAN 2,283,554

KNI'TTINGAMETHOD AND MACHINE ,Filed NOV. l; 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented May 19, 1942 UNlrE sus PATENT Aori-ica KNITTING METHOD ANDMACHINE Harold Houseman, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott and Williams,Incorporated, Laconia,

a corporation of Massachusetts application November 1,1940, serai No.363,822

(ci. ca -135) 19 Claims This invention relates to a knitting method andmachine, and particularly to a knittingl said Getaz application,wrapping on one or more.,

needles is effected by the selective raising of needles to take a wrapyarn as the yarn is projeoted outwardly and temporarily restrained fromfree movement with the needles by means of a relatively stationaryengaging element. If the mechanism such as described in the Getaz patentis not adjusted to a high degree of accuracy, the wrapping may not beproperly eected for several reasons. First, the needles which pass atthe low non-wrapping level are likely to engage the wrap yarn if thatyarn happens to vhave a relatively slight amount of slack: Secondly, thewrap yarn under the same circumstances may possibly engage the raisedneedles below their latches, whereby it would not be knit. Third, if thewrap yarn is accidentally located too low on the raised needles, it islikely to be pushed outwardly to such extent that it may drop in frontof the needles in nonwrapping positions as the needles are broughttogether for the conventional knitting wave, and it may accidentally beknit thereby.

These difficulties in the way of panel wrapping have been solved inordinary single cylinder machines by having inside the needle cylinderan arcuate wrap yarn supporting arm which, in the case of a rotatingcylinder machine, will remain stationary. When the wrap yarn is swungoutwardly, it is swung over this arm, which insures that it remains sohigh as to be definitely above the latch of any needle whichisto bewrapped as well as above the level of the hooks of any needles which arenot to be wrapped, and also insures its being well up in the hook of theneedle,

so that as the wrap needles join the unwrapped needles, the warn willlie inside the unwrapped needles so as not to be taken thereby. Thissupporting element or arm terminates prior to the point where the wrapyarns are drawn into loops along with the main yarn. By carefullylocating the end of the supporting element with respect to the knittingpoint, the take-ups on the wrap yarns will have time to absorb most ofthe excess yarn formed into a loop by the supporting element. It isgenerally best to have the take-up fail to eliminate all of the loop, asa. little slack in the wrap yarn as it is drawn over the sinkersy causesit to lie loosely on the loops of mainyarn to plate better by providingvbetter coverage. Varying the tension of a take-up spring will cause thetake-up to act faster or slower. Thus the supporting element also playsa part in se` curing the most satisfactory plating by the wrap yarn. l

The use of such an element in wrapping is disclosed in the patent toTaggart 2,025,913, dated December 3l, 1935.

In a machine of single cyl'nder type, as diclosed in the Taggart patent,the mounting of g this supporting arm or element is a simple matter,because it can be carried by the latch ring through the medium of abridging element extending across the circle of needles.

In the case of a superposed cylinder type of machine, such mounting ofthe supporting element is impossible, inasmuch as the upper and lowercylinders, together with the needles which move across their approachingends, form a rotating cage into which no stationary elements may extend.The mountings and operation of the wrap fingers, furthermore, precludeyextending downwardly through the upper cylinder any stationary meansfor the purpose of mounting the wrap yarn supporting element.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for themounting of such wrap yarn supporting element, which may be convenientlyreferred to as a horn, since in the superposed cylinder type of machineit most desirably assumes such a form consistent with assembly withother elements. 'I'he operation of the horn reiuires that it be at leastsubstantially stationary (in a rotating cylinder machine) at a timefollowing the projection of a wrap yarn over it, and according to thepresent invention, such relatively stationary condition oi the hornissecured in either of two alternative fashions. In one case, itnormally partakes of the rotation of the i cylinders,v but is caused tobe temporarily stationary, or substantially so, at the time it iscooperating with a wrap yarn. In an alternative embodiment of theinvention, it is actually maintained stationary at all times by the useof an epicyclic gear train arrangement which transfers through rotatingelements to the horn the stationary status of an elementl which may be flocated above the upper cylinder without interference with the rotatingparts of the mechanism. The general object indicated above, as well asspecific objects relating to details of accomplishment of the mainobject, will become apparent from the following description, read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section taken through certainparts of a superposed cylinder type of machine to illustrate the fashionin which a wrap yarn engaging horn functions to eiect proper wrapping; p

Figure 2 is a fragmentary axial section through the same machineillustrating the operating means for the horn;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section showing the Figure 7 is a horizontalsectional view showingA in plan the means for maintaining the hornstationary and for securing its ne adjustment; and Figure 8 is ahorizontal sectional view through the lower portion of Figure 6illustrating the verge and the internal gear associated therewith.Referring first to the embodiment of Figures l to 5, inclusive, thisillustrates the device for temporarily securing a substantiallystationary condition of a wrap yarn supporting horn which is generallymoving with the needle cylinders. The lower and upper cylinders of themachine are illustrated respectively at 2 and 4 and are provided withslots in the usual fashion for -the reception of the double endedneedles`6 which are controlled by .lacks 8 slidable in the lowercylinder and which cooperate with conventional. sinkers I0. The knittingmechanism is conventionaiand reference may be made to the abovementioned Getaz application for thereof.

Within the upper cylinder, and arranged to rotate with it, is located averge I2, provided with openings I4 through which are adapted to projectthe wrap yarn carrying fingers I6 to project their wrap yarns I8 intoposition to be taken by selectively raised needles. The wrap yarn isprojected sufficiently far outwardly to engage a relatively stationarymember 20, which retards its movement and thereby effects its seizure bythe hooks of the selectively raised needles. All of the elements so fardescribed operate as fully set forth in said Getaz application.

preferred detalls the plunger 44 will engage cam 58,

' In accordance with the present invention, however, 'the wrap yarns areprojected over a horn 22, which serves to determine the level of thewrap yarn and provide slack therein for the purposes set forth in theintroduction. 'I'he fashion in which the yarn is moved is illustratedmost clearly in Figure v5, in which it will be noted that at the timethe yarn is being retarded or spread to engage the hooks of the needles,it extends about the horn 22. Shortly after its engagement withthe-needles is completed, however, it should, be released by the horn.If the horn was stationary as the cylinders revolved, it would beobvious that this would occur by the slipping of the wrap yarn oil' theright hand end of the horn as viewed in Figure 5. Y

To effect such relative retardation of the horn with respect to thecylinders, the horn is carried by.a slide 26 mounted by means of screws30 passing through elongated slots 28`so as to have an oscillatorymotion about the axis of the cyllnders. Engaging an opening 32 in theslide 26 is the end 34 of a lever 36 pivoted at 38 on the verge andurged in a counter-clockwise direction, as Y viewed in Figure 3, by aspring40. The lever 36 carries a sloping cam 42 which is arranged to beengaged by a push rod or plunger 44 mounted in slots -in the lower andupper wrap linger guide members 46 and'48, respectively, held inposition by spring bands 50 and 52. and normally urged l been loweredbelowthe horn, across the portion 24 of the verge., so that the hornwill move outbackwards.

upwardly to a position limited by a stop 56 by means of a tension spring64. The various elements just described are supplied for each of thehorns, one of which is located at each .of the positions Where wrappingis to take place. Two of such positions are illustrated in the drawings.

Arranged to cooperate with the plungers 44 is a cam 68 carried by alever 60 mounted in a bracket forming a portion of the frame I1. Thelever 60 is preferably carried by a shaft 62 so that the cam 58 may bemoved into and out of operativeposition by connections from the main camdrum of the machine. The cam is desirably out of operative positionduring the periods in which no wrapping is taking place.

The operation of this arrangement will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. Normally, each horn 22 occupies a position such asillustrated in Figure 5, i. e., projecting completely across the openingthrough which the wrap yarn I carrying iinger or fingers are projected.(In general, a plurality of these fingers carrying different color yarnswill be provided, though only one is illustrated at each wrap positionin the drawings.) 'I'he wrap yarn normally extends from the lastloop inwhich it is knit about the outer edge of the verge and over the roundedportion 24 lof the verge directly beneath the horn 22 to its carrying`finger I6. When the position is approached for the projection of thewrap yarnto engage it with the selectively raised needles, the wrap yarnfinger I6 moves outwardly, drawing theyarn over the horn 22 intoposition to be engaged by the arresting member 20, whereby it is spreadto be engaged by the needles. Up to this time, the horn 22 occupies itsoriginal position, but soon after the spreading is completed, therebybeing forced downwardly and, by the action upon the cam 42, causing thelever 36 and the corresponding slide 26 to move rearwardly relative tothe direction of rotation of the cylinders. As are-` sult of this, thehorn moves sharply to the left as viewed in Figure 5 relative to theneedle cylinders and so clears, the wrap yarn, being moved by the actionjust described to a sufficient extent to insure complete clearance ofthe wrap yarn, irrespective of the extent of the wrapping which hastaken place. As soon as the cam 58 is cleared,

the spring 40 may snap the slide 26 and horn 22 drawn, the yarn willextend directly from the last needle it engaged, which will by this timehave side it. The end of the horn is preferably provided with a roundedpoint as illustrated to insure that it will pass outside the yarn.

While the momentary stationary condition 4oi' Athe horn has beenreferred to, it will be evident that this is merely a relative conditionand that the horn need not have imparted to it a retarding motionrelative to the needle cylinder equal to the forward rate of movement ofthe cylinder,

so that it would appear to an outside observer momentarily stationary.`Tosuch observer it may well appear to move continuously forwardly butmomentarily at a somewhat slower rate than the needle cylinder, or evenmomentarily All that is important is .to have it release the warp yarnat the proper time and then be restored to its original position by theadjusted by the screws spring All after the wrap finger' retardingelement and the needles have so moved that the yarn will be in aposition for the horn to move over and outside it. Where,- therefore,reference is made to a temporary relatively stationary condition of thehorn, it is to be understood that there is meant only a ,retardation ofits forward movement in such fashion as to secure the aforementionedresults. Further it will be evident that the invention is applicable toa stationary cylinder type of machine, in-which case the horn will havea momentary reciprocation, being normally stationary with the cylinders.

In the modification of Figures 6, 7 and 8, a horn is actually maintainedin stationary position so that its action is substantially identicallythat of the wrap yarn supporting element described in the Taggertpatent. In this modification, the upper needle cylinder is illustratedat 10, a double ended needle at l2 and a sinker at 11i, the two latterelements being supported in the lower needle cylinder, which is notillustrated. A verge 16 is carried by a spindle 'I9 'and rotates withthe upper needle cylinder. The

verge in this case is provided with an arm 82 and otherwise is of moreor less skeleton form, provided with upwardly extending lugs 88 providedwith steps on which rests the internal gear 86 carrying the horn 81.Above the internal gear 86, and holding it in position, is a ring 0,secured to the verge by means of as indicated at 38 to the cylinder 1li.

A pinion 9D meshes with the gear 8E and is carried by an upright shaft92 mounted in the arm 82 and a bearing lug 9% carried by the plate 9S,which is secured by screws 98 to the upper ring gear IBD, which is inturn secured to the upper cylinder by screws |012. At its upper end, theshaft 92 carries a pinion |06, which meshes with the internal teeth of aplate IM held concentric, and in iiatwise engagement, with the plate 96by keying members |08. The plate |66 is provided with a leg Il@adjustable between clamping screws H2 threaded through lugs in themachine frame. By this arrangement, as will be evident hereafter, a fineadjustment may be imparted to the plate |08 and in turn transferred tothe horn $1.

The lower wrap finger supporting disc Il is secured to a sleeve ||6 andprovided with a slot ||8, through which the shaft 92 normally passes,

which slot is suiiiciently large to clear the bearing 94 and the upperpinion |04 when the sleeve |||S is raised to lift the wrap yarn fingersI8 to threading position, as described application. The pin |2D normallylocks the member ||4 to the verge.

It will be evident from the description of this modification that thehorn 81 occupies a stationary position during the rotation of thecylinders and the elements carried thereby, since the pitch diameters ofthe internal gears and NB are theI same, as are also the pitch diametersof the pin-` ions 90 and |04. As the cylinders rotate, the

pinions and their shaft 92 rotate.bodily with them, but the rotation ofthe shaft 92 is so related automatically to the rotation of thecylinders that the gear 8S remains stationary. The horn 81 is located atthe wrapping position in such fashion as to have the wrap yarns laidthereover and then clear its end at lthe proper time, so that itfunctions the sameas the wrap yarn supporting or guiding element of saidTaggart patent. The position of the horn 81 may-be- ||2, since it willbe evi- 75 screws and keyed in said (Sietaz Y3 dent that any adjustmentimparted to the plate |05 will be precisely reproduced in the gear 86.

The mounting and operation of element 20,

which forms no part of the 'present invention, is indicated in Figures 3and 6. It is mounted upon a pivot |3| and is provided with a pin |30vengaged in a slot in an arm |29 carried by a vertical rod |28,'which ispulled downwardly by a spring |32 into engagement with a cam (not shown)on the cam drum of the machine. At

its upper end, the rod |28 carries an arm |26,

provided with a cam-following pin |33.urged into engagement with camsi3d on plate 6% by means of a spring |25. An abutment screw |21 limitsthe outward movement of the arm |26 under the actionof the spring.

In the operation of the machine, when the element 2t is not operating,i. e'., when wrapping is not taking place, the plunger |2 -isI raised bya drum cam so that the follower pin |33 is not engaged by the earns |34.Under such circumstances, therefore, the element 23 is withdrawn fromthe vicinity of the needle circle. On the other hand, when wrapping istaking place, lthe plunger |28 is released for downward movement underthe action of spring |32, and upon the approach of each of the wrapngers or groups thereof to the location of the element 20 cams |34 vwillact upon the pin 533, serving to move the elementA inwardly to engagethe wrap yarn and properly present the same to the needles. The

' cams lili are so designed as toimpart to the element 2o the necessaryinward movements to insure entry of th'e yarns into the hooks of theelevated needles which are to take them.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference topanel wrapping, it will be evidentthat the invention is equallyapplicable to individual needle wrapping in which there is never anywrapping of more than one v needle by a single yarn finger in any onecourse. In such case, the horn has the useful function of insuring thatthe yarn is maintained at a quite definite height on the needle to bewrapped so as to wrap it properly and avoid engagement with any adjacentneedle. y l

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in saidcylinders, wrap yarn feeding m'eans, an element arranged to support wrapyarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in acircumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means foreecting relative movement between said element vand the needle cylindersat least at the time o the wrapping operation.

2. A circular knitting 'machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slidein said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged tosupport wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in acircumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means foreffecting relative movement between said element and the needlecylinders at least at the time of the wrapping operation, the last namedmeans comprising elements located within, and rotating with, the uppercylinder. f

3.l A circular knitting machine of the superthe rotating I posedcylinder type comprising rotatingupper vcircumferential direction insidethe circle of needles, and means for maintaining said elementsubstantially stationary during at least a portion of the rotation ofthe needle cylinders.

4. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slidein said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged tosupport wrap lyarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending ina circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means forimparting to said element .motion'relative to said needle cylindersduring their rotation.

5. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slidein `said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an ele- -ment arranged tosupport wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in acircumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and meansforimparting to said element a backward and then a forward movementrelative to said needle cylinders during their rotation.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising a `circular rotating series ofneedles, wrap yarn feeding means,` an element inside the needle circlearranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means foreffecting general circumferential movement of said element throughcomplete revolutions with the needles but for e'ecting movement relativeto the needles at predetermined times.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular Aseries of needles,wrap yarn feeding' means, an element inside the needle circle arrangedto support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, an abutment for engagingthe yarn between thewrap yarn feeding means and said element, and meansfor withdrawing said element circumferentially from yarn positionbefore-the drawing of loops.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular rotating series ofneedles, wrap yarn feeding means, an element inside the needle circlearrangedV to -support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means forcausing said element to revolve with needles while wrapping is takingplace and for subsequently arresting said movement to free the wrapyarn.

9. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular rotating series ofneedles, wrap yarn feeding means. an element inside the needle circlearranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means forboth rotating saidl element and for oscillating it circumferentiallywith respect to the needles during each revolution of the needles.

l0. The method of wrapping a` yarn about selected needles whichcomprises-passing'the yarn' V over a supporting element inside theneedle circle and about the needles at a-time when there is no relativemovement between said supporting element and the needles andsubsequently moving the supporting element with respect to the needlesto free the wrap yarn from said element.

11. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising upper` and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in saidcylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrapyarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in acircumsupporting ferential direction inside the circle of needles, andmeans for effecting relative movement between said element and theneedle cylinders at least at the time of the wrapping operation, the

last named means comprising an epicyclic gear train extending within theupper cylinder.

12. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in saidcylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrapyarn in the wrapping last named means comprising a plungerextendinhwithin the upper cylinder and rotating therewi 13. A circularknitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper andlower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarnfeeding means, an element arranged to support vwrap yarn in the wrappingoperation, said element extending in a circumferential direction insidethe circle of needles, and means within the upper cylinder for effectingrelative movement between said element and the needle cylinders at leastat the time of the wrapping operation.

1 4. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising upper and lower cylindersneedles arranged to slide in saidcylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and an element inside the needlecircle for supporting wrap yarn.

15. A circular knitting machine of 'the super-- posed cylinder typecomprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slidein said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and

-a substantially stationary element inside the needle circle forsupporting wrap yarn.

16. Ajcircular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needl'es arranged toslide in said cylinders, 4wrap yarn feeding means arranged to projectwrap yarn across the needle circle, and an element arranged to engage awrap yarn between the point at which it was last knit and the partthereof to be engaged by a needle to control the position of the portionment inside the needle circle for supporting wrap yarn prior' to drawingloops thereof into the fabric. l

19. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder typecomprising rotating upperand lower cylinders. needles arranged to slidein said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and a substantiallystationary element inside the needie circle for supporting wrap yarnprior to drawing loops thereof in to the fabric.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.

